Migrants helping boost Alice population

An examination of the 2011 census data has found population growth in Alice Springs is being driven by the arrival of overseas migrants.

Charles Darwin University statistician Andrew Taylor says between 2006 and 2011 the town's population grew at a rate of about 1 per cent per year.

He says the arrival of people from countries like India, Zimbabwe and the Philippines balanced with residents who left the town for interstate.

"So without the arrival of these new migrant communities, the town's population would have fallen by 5 per cent in the period from 2006-2011, whereas with the arrivals of those people the town's population has been growing at about 1 percent or so," he said.

It has also been revealed, women aged between 30 and 40 are deserting Alice Springs in favour of interstate cities and towns.

Mr Taylor says the exodus of women is leading to a more balanced gender ratio in the town.

"Measured at the last census, Alice Springs was a female biased town," he said.

"It's now become a more balanced town, so overall yes we've had more women move to go and live interstate than have arrived and the effect of that has been to lower the overall gender ratio in town."